Old Testament - There are quite a few miscellaneous and interesting regulations in our readings today! :) All in all, very good advice of course. Deuteronomy chapter 25 verse 4 tells us this wise advice - "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." I think it is quite fair for an ox to eat while he's working!

New Testament - Luke chapter 10 verse 20 is an incredible teaching from Jesus for us to heed even today - "But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven." I do think that sometimes we rejoice over the wrong things - secondary things. The primary thing is our relationship with Jesus. And then there are secondary good things that perhaps we do or are involved with in the Kingdom. But, don't rejoice over those. Rejoice that you are in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that matters.

Today in Luke chapter 10 verse 21 we read – “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” What a great opening line – Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit! In your life today - are you full of joy through the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be? I read a great commentary from the One Year Bible companion on this verse with this wonderful Q & A - “What was Jesus’ relationship to the Holy Spirit? Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, baptized by the Holy Spirit, anointed by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He lives in union with the Holy Spirit, and was dependent upon the Holy Spirit.” What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit today? Are you dependent upon the Holy Spirit in your life?

Today we read the famous story of the Good Samaritan. This story always convicts me to ask myself - "Who is my neighbor?" Who is your neighbor? Below is a painting from 1890 by Vincent van Gogh titled "The Good Samaritan":

Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 10 readings today titled "The True Source of Joy" is at this link and commentary titled "The Good Samaritan" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 75 verse 7 is so powerful and so true... I need to hear this over and over again - "It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall." You and I do not judge. Well, we might try to judge, but it's all in vain if we do. And we risk turning judgment onto ourselves when we do. God alone judges. God alones decides who will rise and who will fall. We do not. God is God. We are not. This is a very good thing to always remember! :) We should also always remember we are so not this man below when it comes to other people's hearts or eternal destinies...

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 12 verse 14 is a beautiful Proverb - "People can get many good things by the words they say; the work of their hands also gives them many benefits." I think it is safe to say that we should speak and work and there will be benefits! :) It is true I think that work is a very good thing. I'm sure you're probably like me at times and dream about winning the lottery. This seems like it would be ideal. We wouldn't have to work. We could just do what we wanted. Trust me - this would be a curse. We need work. I think it blesses us immensely to work. And indeed it gives many benefits - and not just $. The benefits include confidence and skills and friendships and socialization and this list could go on. The work of our hands gives us many benefits. Forget the lottery. You don't want that trouble. :) Let us get to work!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today:"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray and rejoice if your name is written in heaven through your saving faith in Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection. Pray that you will not rejoice that spirits submit to you, but that you will rejoice in Christ alone.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on Luke chapter 10 verse 20 above, have you ever literally rejoiced because your name is registered as a citizen of heaven? If not, will you take a moment to do so now? Do you think in our lives today we actually think more about being citizens of this world or of heaven? Where is our heart when it comes to where we think our citizenship truly lies? Are you looking forward to the day when the false citizenship of this world is no longer a distracting issue and you fully realize that you are a citizen of heaven? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

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Deuteronomy 23-25:19

I have gone through these three chapters about four times trying to get a change of focus but I’m stuck on verses two and three of the 23rd chapter.

2"Those of illegitimate birth and their descendants for ten generations may not be included in the assembly of the LORD.

3"No Ammonites or Moabites, or any of their descendants for ten generations, may be included in the assembly of the LORD.

I realize that we are operating under a new covenant but I can’t help think that there is something more here than meets “my” eye because of what little I know of the scriptures.

“Assembly of the LORD,” what is it? Is this considered all of Israel (actually Israel as well as spiritual), or is this leadership, elders of the religious community or political or possibly both? I’m going through the Bible using the One Year Bible and these two verses in Deuteronomy 23 have arrested my attention.

I know that Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law was a Moabite and she was David’s grandmother (1 Chronicles 2:10-13) so how does that fact fit in with what the third verse of Deut 23 states? I’m thinking that all of this, verse 2 and 3 has something to do with lifestyle choices and that is what causes you to be Israel and or a Moabite. Judah produced two sons out of wedlock and by his daughter-in-law (Gen. 38) Tamar who were in Jesus’ lineage. And yes I know that this discretion happened before the Law was given to Moses. Also one of Israel’s judges, Jephthah was born out of wedlock (Judges 11). So what does this all mean?

Funny how we get stuck on things that seem to make no sense, but I’ve learned if I stuck on something God is trying to show me something or at least trying to get me to see things from a different perspective.

Deuteronomy 25:
17 "Never forget what the Amalekites did to you as you came from Egypt. 18 They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were lagging behind. They had no fear of God. 19 Therefore, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land he is giving you as a special possession, you are to destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this!

Again here is something that flies in the face of forgive and forget. And yes I know that we are under a different covenant; however, in the fourth verse of chapter 23 God commands Israel to behave differently toward the Egyptians, who held them in bondage, and the Edomites, descendents of Esau. I’m still thinking that there is something in the way each of these mentioned nations have chosen to conduct their society that determines Israel’s treatment of them. I do know that all of the mentioned nations worshiped a multitude of gods. So I think that each nation’s character must have something to do with how Israel interacts with them. I think I’m focused on this because this might have implications for us today.
Luke 10:13-37

In Luke 10 this conversation is recorded, 25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"
26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

One of the reasons why I love going through the scriptures for myself is because God has invited me too. Jesus asked this religious expert, “How do you read it?” In short He was telling the man, just as he tells us today, “Don’t’ give me what someone else’s has said, tell me what you think?” Throughout scripture God has invites us to dialogue with Him out His Word. And if we are truly seeking truth, when we are wrong about reading a scripture, God will engage us in dialogue. He won’t slap us silly, He want call us neither stupid nor “dingbat.” I know this for a fact because He has lovingly engaged and corrected me.

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Most of the time our understanding of the text is right is just our application may be off.

Psalm 75:1-10
1 We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles.

Sometimes I invite myself to my very own pity party and I think at work, at play or wherever, that I’m the only bible believing Christian and I’m in the midst of a “bunch of heathens.” That is a lie. This text tells me that there are people everywhere talking about God and what He has done. I’m just not listening because I’m focusing on little ole me and thinking I’m all that and a bag of chips!

Proverbs 12:12-14
14 People can get many good things by the words they say; the work of their hands also gives them many benefits.